Local authorities and organisations across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have responded to the RTPI’s call to offer young planners the opportunity to find out what it is like to be a chief planning officer.

Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council is seeking interest from developers for the redevelopment of a former car park in the city centre’s Historic Quarter with an 80-bedroom hotel. This follows the news that the Beannchor Group, owner of Belfast's Merchant Hotel, has obtained planning permission for a 52-bedroom hotel in Lisburn Square in the County Antrim city.

A report highlighting the care of heritage assets in government ownership has been published by the Department for Communities. It highlights an increased emphasis on partnership and innovative solutions to get assets back into social and economic use.

Belfast City Council has approved the development of a new public park-and-play park in the Colin area in the west of the city to be funded by the Northern Ireland Executive’s Urban Villages Initiative.